Back home

Hello! Here we are!

So we're all moved in, except for a few bins of crap, which persist because my husband is mentally ill. We moved from a relatively spacious house to an apartment that is approximately the size of a walk-in closet, and Scott thinks he can bring along his "mementos" and other useless debris that the voices in his head tell him he must never discard. Scott is way more sentimental than I am, it turns out. I gleefully shredded fifteen years of journals (I know people were alarmed by this move, but please believe me when I tell you that there was nothing worth keeping in those journals), donated all of Henry's baby toys and clothing, and practically had to be stopped from starting a memorabilia bonfire in the backyard. I got memories in my head-parts, so what do I need scrapbooks for? Is my motto.

At any rate, we're back in Brooklyn, and I don't think it would be possible for me to be happier. There's always some sadness when you leave a place, and I do miss my New Jersey friends, but we love it here. Love it. We love the things that would probably drive other people insane. Okay, I could do without the constant noise coming from the people above us, who are housing either a rambunctious child, or a pony, or both. And some of the neighbors really enjoy engaging in spirited debates in the stairwell, which can be grating. But otherwise, wow, we're pleased.

I wasn't sure how Henry would adjust to the new setting. He was pretty blasé about the move, but then, he seemed equally unperturbed when we moved to NJ, but once we were settled in, his heart closed down. So far, though, all is going swimmingly. It doesn't hurt that we're so happy to be here, that he has friends and relatives around the corner, that there's a playground across the street, or that he's a superstar in his new school. Apparently when you're in kindergarten, being the New Kid makes you an alluring, mysterious figure, and not an awkward outcast. Also, there are Legos. Which is really all he needs to make it through the day.

Comments

[Christina (apron strings)]

I am glad that you're back. However, I think you are very mean. so what if I have EVERY LETTER AND NOTE written to me SINCE ELEMENTARY school? What if I forget why my friend Shelly broke up with Matt in the fourth grade!?!?!?

[laura]

How are the dog and cat feeling about the move?

[Stephanie]

Yay! Glad you're happily moved in.

[Mrs Embers]

I'm SO glad to hear everyone's getting settled in again.

You and I are such different people- I'd take personal space over city living ANY day, and I need the journals because my head isn't so good with keeping memories in it... but I adore you, anyway. :)

[tzena]

Well, pen me in as the egotistic one. Would you care to meet up with your Manhattan fans? Like, ever? I realize we live in the provinces, but still. Have mercy.

[jo]

AHHHH! You're back!!!! I love it.

[B mama]

Ohhhh, color me jealous. I miss Brooklyn.

[kaylen]

ha- what more could you ask for then legos??!!

[Lara]

Congratulations on being back home in Brooklyn! I'm wondering what Brooklyn kindergarten has legos. It's not the magnet school that my kids go to in Ditmas Park. I wish our school let kids play a little more.

[Assertagirl]

Congratulations on your new home, Alice! I hope you all feel very content there.

[Pam]

I grew up in Matawan, and then lived in Summit, and my sister is in New Providence. So I'm kind of from your old 'hood. I live outside Washington, DC now (work in the city) so I like to think I have the best of the city and suburban life. I am envious of the small space living...since I started an organizing business on the side, I like to think of how to live with less.

[Marcy]

I'm trying to purge our useless crap, and recently found the box of journals I've been keeping since 7th grade. I'd always thought I should keep these forever as mementos of my young life. This time, I read through them and thought THESE MUST BE DESTROYED. I mean, is there really any redeeming value in all that crap I wrote about boys? Seriously.

Enough about me. Glad to hear the move's gone well!

[BOSSY]

Welcome home.

[Kit]

Your husband sounds like mine... we have boxes of his 'stuff' that he will never ever need again. But oh no, can't throw them away!!! Drives me crazy. And we have been moving around a lot (with twins) these past couple of years... I am so tired of looking at his stuff! Although, I do have journals from 20 years ago, and I am not sure if I am ready to shred.... Happy new (old) home to you!

[Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com]

Maybe the neighbors above have something much cooler than a pony, something like an elephant or a very fat hippo. Wouldn't that be excusable?

No?

[Jenn]

I feel like I'm backwards from the two of you—I'm the habitual hoarder and he's the one on a memento burning spree. One thing that's worked for me is that we'll take a high-res digital photo of said mementos and then throw them away. I'm happy because I can still look at it whenever I want, and he's happy because we have room in our closets again.

Maybe this will help your husband?

[mothergoosemouse]

Hmmm...I shredded my journals when we moved from the city to NJ. I wonder if this means I can never go back.

In any case, I'm glad you did. I understand the pull; I can feel it all the way out here in Denver.

[Mom101]

Oh my goodness, you get to call yourself the New York Bradleys again - how great is that? (Says the New Yorker.)

I am so happy for you all. Also, envious of the crap disposal skills. I am more like Scott for sure. And I have my 11th grade "Purim Prom" corsage in a box somewhere to prove it.

[Stephanie]

You have just inspired me to get rid of my mementos and crap, and I'm not even moving. But I KNOW that the weight off will be the Sun! That shines! After a long, cold, dark, and heavy winter.

And what better day? The day that Summer Time begins.

Thank you.

[Hip Mom's Guide]

So totally happy for you!

[Kris]

I feel so much better about journal tossing now! My statute of limitations on journals is BRIEF. I can rarely stand going back and reading them a year later, or if I do, there's this overwhelming sense of, 'Huh. Look how upset I was about x thing and I had all but forgotten about it now. That was dumb.'It's that feeling that keeps me from starting a proper blog. How do you feel about going through your archives here? Do you get the urge to purge those? Because, as they say, trying to get information off the internet is like trying to get the pee out of a pool.

[the mama bird diaries]

Congrats on the move!